The impact of language (especially written language) on the acquisition of knowledge and skills in children is discussed. (MJB)

Teachers of different languages diconnect themselves from one another, which fragments the profession. Secondly, the choice and use of language often has a disconnecting force. Theses of a book by Neil Postman are considered concerning ineffective communication and communication that has unreasonable or trivial purposes. (SW)

Describes how triglossia in Nigerian education lies in the complementary distribution of languages by functions, with the languages of home, community, and school corresponding roughly to the affective, conative, and cognitive psychological categories. Provides a triglottic model which describes actual function of language in education in Nigeria.…

Argues that a culture's rhetoric constitutes an interface where the prescriptions of the language meet the practices of the culture. Attempts to identify and suggest some of the differences between Chinese and Western rhetoric that confront an American writing teacher in China. (EL)

Investigates whether speakers of standard German and Dutch maintain their language variety better than speakers of German and Dutch dialects. Also investigates the phenomenon of diglossia in immigrant societies and shows that the type of diglossia prevalent in the immigrant's home country significantly affects the language situation in the new…

South American educator and author Freire discusses qualities important for the teacher, his vision of education and the growth of young children, and the role of language and reading in that vision. (HTH)

Decries the lack of attention to second language learning in the American public schools. Contrasts language study in the United States to that in other countries. (FL)

Outlines the history, present status, and future prospects of bilingual education in Slovenia, Yugoslovia. The way in which Italians, Hungarians, and Slovenes experience the right to equal education in a socialist society is described. (Author/DB)

An exploration of the history and status of the English language around the world focuses on how beliefs and attitudes have shaped and continue to shape the role of the language. An introductory section examines how perceptions of standard English have paralleled a tendency toward increased linguistic intolerance in the twentieth century.…

The account of language use in Accra, capital of Ghana, focuses on the social history of language use and on issues of language choice in a multilingual society. The first chapter gives an account of a language dispute that demonstrates both literally and symbolically the historically rooted relationships of the four main languages of Accra: Ga,…

This paper considers the options for Quebec in a globalizing economy. Quebec has not only been recognized as being distinct in the Canadian political context, but it is also seen as having a distinct business culture. As Quebec looks to its expanding cultural and economic role within larger zones such as NAFTA and the FTAA, a certain tension has…

Despite the fact that the majority of the world's population speaks mother tongues other than English, about a third of their number use English as a second or an alternative official or commercial language. English is also the language of available information, of international communication (such as air- and sea-speak), and of computer…

While most primary school education in Hong Kong (China) is in the native language, Cantonese, and most university-level instruction is conducted in English, the language of secondary school instruction has begun to shift from English to Cantonese. The decision to increase Cantonese use is controversial. Four studies of this situation are…

A study examined language socialization in Dominica (West Indies), focusing on the use of a French-based creole, Patwa, in a situation of linguistic and social change. Despite claims that Patwa is integral to Dominican identity, rural caregivers choose to speak English to language-learning children, contributing to rapid attrition of Patwa.…

In this review, it is suggested that language influences the young child's thinking and behavior at an age earlier than commonly reported. Three areas are discussed: concept formation, communication, and problem solving. (CS)